Ghana: I’ll fight corruption but won’t witch-hunt NDC – Akufo-Addo

Ghanaian President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo has promised not to engage in “acts of political vendetta or harassment” against the Mahama-led government when he takes over.

According to him, although he will wage war on corruption, he will only do that in in accordance with the law.

Akufo-Addo said this in a letter addressed to former President Jerry John Rawlings who had admonished the newly elected president to pursue “an anti-corruption drive.”

“Your victory is a manifestation of the people’s desire for new leadership and comes with enormous responsibilities including a commitment to pursue an anti-corruption drive across-the-board,” Rawlings said in a letter to congratulate Akufo-Addo.

Responding to Rawlings statement, Akufo-Addo said in pursuing corruption he will be guided by due process.

“…There can be no room in such an undertaking for witch-hunting or acts of political vendetta or harassment. No member of the NDC has anything to fear from my future government. I am fully committed to pursuing ‘an anti-corruption drive across-the board,’ as you put it, which will be fully anchored in the rule of law and strict respect for due process. That is the best form of security for every citizen of the country,” he added.

The President-elect further assured to tackle challenges confronting Ghana in relation to unemployment, high cost of living, health care among others.

“My goal is to provide effective leadership, which is honest, competent and determined to deliver, and address these challenges, so that we can put our nation onto the path of progress and prosperity, and, thereby, improve rapidly the standards of living of Ghanaians,” he added.

Below is Akufo-Addo’s full letter:

H.E. Flt. Lt. Jerry John RawlingsFormer President of the RepublicAccra.Your Excellency,

This is to acknowledge with thanks your letter of December 10, 2016, with its heartwarming contents.

Our people, as clearly expressed in your letter, are confronted with huge challenges –unprecedented levels of joblessness, high costs of living, widespread and rampant cases of corruption, and deterioration in governance and in the quality of our health and education services – which they want addressed.

My goal is to provide effective leadership, which is honest, competent and determined to deliver, and address these challenges, so that we can put our nation onto the path of progress and prosperity, and, thereby, improve rapidly the standards of living of Ghanaians.

For this to happen, I would need the unalloyed support of every Ghanaian, irrespective of their ethnic group or religious or political affiliation. There can be no room in such an undertaking for witch-hunting or acts of political vendetta or harassment. No member of the NDC has anything to fear from my future government.

I am fully committed to pursuing “an anti-corruption drive across-the board”, as you put it, which will be fully anchored in the rule of law and strict respect for due process. That is the best form of security for every citizen of the country. Once again, many thanks for your letter of congratulations.